In a survey published in 2000, more than 80 percent of teachers indicated that a desire to work with children drove their decision to become teachers and 65 percent stressed the importance of teaching as a factor. Teachers are in high demand in areas experiencing population growth, such as Texas. If a career teaching younger children sounds rewarding to you, follow these steps for how to become an elementary school teacher in Texas.

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Steps

1

Earn a bachelor's degree. Public colleges and universities in Texas do not offer degrees in education, so the Texas Educator Certification program does not recognize a bachelor's degree in education for teaching degrees.

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2

Complete an approved Texas Teacher Preparation program. Because state schools do not offer education degrees, all teaching candidates must have completed a bachelor's degree in an approved subject area and complete a teacher preparation program.

Some colleges and universities offer a teacher preparation program as part of a bachelor's degree program.

Texas also recognizes some private teaching firms to prepare those who already have a bachelor's degree and want to become teachers.

3

Prepare for the Generalist exam for the grade level you want to teach. The Texas Education Agency offers free materials to help you to prepare for your test. Based on the test they take, Texas Elementary School teachers can be certified for early childhood through 4th grade, early childhood through 6th grade, or 4th through 8th grades. You can prepare for tests for additional endorsements, such as bilingual or gifted education, at the same time you prepare for the generalist test.

4

Pass the Texas generalist exam. In most cases, teaching candidates take the Texas generalist exam for the appropriate grade level online, although in some cases the exam is offered in person. You can generally take exams for additional endorsements at the same time you take the Texas generalist exam.

5

Apply for an elementary school teacher job at the Texas elementary school of your choice. To increase your odds of becoming 1 of the 320,000 teachers serving 4.7 million students in the Texas school system, apply for teaching jobs at multiple elementary schools.

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Some school districts have requirements that are greater than the requirements issued by the state of Texas. If you want to work in a particular school or school district, be sure to check into additional requirements early in your job searching process.

Texas accepts teaching certificates for elementary school teachers whose certificates were issued in other states or countries provided that the standards are at least as rigorous as the standards for becoming an elementary school teacher in Texas.

You can find a teacher preparation program that will meet your needs on the Texas Education Agency website.

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